Nepal Trip from Gurgaon!!

I am Dipin from Gurgaon.As i can see that you guys have some some experiencing crossing to Nepal through Banbasa, I am planning to Cross border through Banbasa instead of Gorakhpur in a car.My plan is to go to Banbasa , Mahendranagar, Butwal, Pokhara, Kathmandu, and exit from Kakarvitta Border to Siliguri , Darjelling ,Sikkim and back to Gurgaon abut 3500kms in total..I am planning for this trip between 15th-30th of Dec.I would like to know how much do i need to pay for the permit per day for the car to Nepal?.Would it be a problem if i have a valid driving license of mine but my car papers are goona be on my uncle's name original though?.Is it a right time for traveling to Nepal politically?.
I welcome everyone's suggestions regarding my trip.Hoping for a prompt response asap.
Dipin

going to KTM from Goa via Bagdogra , any ideas for air travel within Nepal

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickyabroadI'd like an update on this too as my friend and I are set to do this crossing in a week or two. Also, I haven't found much information on the type of buses that go from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. Are they comfortable enough for the 12 hour journey? We won't have much time in Nepal so we probably won't be able to break the journey anywhere. Thanks!

Hi, any one can suggest how to cheap air travel within Nepal to KTM from Bharatpur, Meghauly, Bhadrapur?

Hello

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaleenhi all. is it a feasible route-

tanakpur-mahindranagar-malakheti-dhabai-chisapani-kohalpur-ameliya-butwal-narayangarh-mugling-benighat-kathmandu-
dhalkebar-gurdham-hanumannagar-belbari-kakarbhita-bagdogra-darjeeling
-by self driven car- is it feasible /allowed
-how much time it will take approximately

What is the paperwork process like at Indian immigration office at the Kakravitta-Panitanki crossing for non-indians. Is there much hassle, questioning, etc.? Are the officers competent or do they take hours trying to figure out your visa status?

I have a relatively short connection time (3 hours) between my flight arrival in Bhadrapur, Nepal and departure in Bagdogra, India so I worry about getting held-up at the border.

Good to ready ur experience, As I am planning to go to kakarbhitta to narayangadh, but no idea how much time it will take and what will be the fare. Is their any pre booking?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kshastryFolks,

I felt like writing this piece since I found there is not much information available over the web on the overland border crossings at Panitanki-Kakarbhitta section. Whatever that was present seem to be outdated (pre-2001 as I found them).

I recently did a trip to Kathmandu, Nepal (in July 2007). I flew to Bagdogra, which is probably the nearest airport at the Indian side to Nepal border. One can fly into Bagdogra from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Good news is that Air Deccan (an Indian LCC) flies into Bagdogra from all the three destinations mentioned above.

Nepal border is located at about 25KMs from Bagdogra airport. The Indian side of the border village is called Panitanki. Nepal side village is Kakarbhitta. Bagdogra is also the nearest airport for Gangtok (Sikkim) and Darjeeling. There are taxis available for hire outside the airport.

If you are on a budget, and don't want to spend money on an expensive taxi ride to border, you may hire an Auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk) to a place called "Bihar Mode" from airport (about 10 mins from airport). This should not cost you more than Rs.50. At Bihar Mode, you will get plenty of local buses to Panitanki. The journey to Panitank may take upto 30 mins. It will cost you Rs.10.

At Panitanki, you may choose to cross the border by foot (about 1 KM walk) OR hire a cycle-rickshaw (peddled). Panitanki and Kakarbhitta are separated by "Mechi" river. There is a bridge which is no-mans land. Indians are entitled to free movement. Nobody questioned me when I simply walked acrossed the bridge to Nepal. The Indian immigration and customs is a ramshackle hut which seemed to manned by a bunch of duffers who seem to think that fair skinned blondes are the "phoren people" who needs to be inspected for documention. Its easy to hoodwink them if you look like an Indian (though I am not advocating it here).

At Kakarbhitta (also spelt as Kakervitta), things seemed even relaxed. Nepali immigration simply looked on. They also seem to be interested in catching only westreners. I couldn't experience Visa issuance process as I didn't need one. At the end of Mechi bridge at Nepali side, you may be persued by touts who wants to sell you bus/flight tickets to various destinations within Nepal. It could be a nuisance at times as they hover around you till you relant.

Bus from Karakbhitta to Kathmandu

I took a bus from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. I could have flown from Bhadrapur, which is the nearest airport to Kakarbhitta. But the flights seem to leave from Bhardrapur in the mornings, and I had reached Kakarbhitta well past noon. There were conflicting theories of how long it could take to bus from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. It varied from 12 hours to 18 hours. Kakarbhitta is the easternmost border point of Nepal. The road distance to Kathmandu is 600 KMs.

The road from Kakarbhitta towards Kathmandu is named "Mahendra highway". It joins "Tribhuvan highway" 25 KMs south of Hetauda town. The quality of road is surprizingly good!. This road was constructed about 12 years back with the help of Korean government. The road is made of concrete with a top thin layer of Asphalt. This road has not seen maintenance from past 5 or 6 years. Yet, it had manage to hold on. There are very few places on the way where there are few potholes. But they are tolerable. Also, the souther part of Nepal (called Terai) is actually a "plane". That is it is not hilly region. The roads are straight and obstacle free. Buses will maintain good speed in Terai region.

Touts assured me that bus will not take more than 12 hours, only if I took their company's bus. The bus stand is located just after the immigration. There are various private companies operating buses to Kathmandu. "Agni", "jwala", "Makalu", "Swayambhu" to name a few.The buses depart to Kathmandu from 3 PM till about 6 PM. (Note: Nepali time is 15 mins ahead of Indian time)

The government owned "Sajha Yatayat" (blue colored buses) is grounded from past few months (don't know the reasons for it). Nepal is bit unstable these days. Strikes and Road blocks are quite common. It may not be a good idea to hire an Indian vehicle all the way to Kathmandu from Bagdogra, though its possible. Maoists have strong anti-India feelings and they may turn away Indian vehicles from any point.

My advice is take a "Tourist" coach. That is, there will be one or two buses labled "Tourist". They often have better seating and most importantly, the chances of being blocked by striking villagers / Maoists on the way for Tourist coach is less. Before committing, insist on seeing the bus. Check the seat quality, whether it properly reclines etc. Ask them to mention the bus number and seat number on the ticket receipt. The ticket would cost about INR 400 to INR 475 in the tourist bus.

In my experience, whole journey took about 15 hours from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. It could have taken an hour less, but for the heavy downpours of July. The bus looked great from outside. Interiors were not bad either. However, it didn't had a functioning windshield wiper!. Driver kept guessing about the road ahead and made violent brakings to avoid oncoming vehicles. We left Kakarbhitta at 5:30 pm and reached Hetauda at 3 PM in the morning. From Hetauda the hilly region begins. From here, the its an upward journey till we descend into Kathmandu valley. It may take nearly 5-6 hours from Hetauda to Kathmandu.

Once you reach Kathmandu, you will be most likely deposited at a place called "Swayambhu". Sometimes you may be taken into the bus park located at Gongabu. You can hire taxis to reach your destination within Kathmandu.

For the return journey to Kakarbhitta, you need to board the bus at Gongabu bus park. My return journey cost me NRS 500. Tickets are available at the counters.

Here are few pics taken in that journey. The pics are in the order of:

- The "Tourist" bus I took for my onward jounrey
- Mechi river bridge between Panitanki and Karbhitta
- Nepali border post at Kakarbhitaa
- Typical interior of a tourist bus
- Buses standing at Gongabu park in Kathmandu

Immigration Office Hours Kakravitta & Panitanki

Two questions

1) My American friend and I will be crossing the Nepal-India border. Are there specific hours that the Immigration offices are open on either side. We might be crossing late at night or early morning thus are worried that Immigration will be closed and we might be stuck for a few hours

2) Will Taxis/Jeeps agree to take us to Gangtok in the evenings at a decent rate?

We are planning to leave Kakravitta around 7PM for Sikkim, meaning we will arrive there around 11PM.

Our second option is to spend the night in Kakravitta and depart early morning around 6AM, but we are worried that the Immigration Office might not open until a few hours later and we have an important arrangement in Gangtok that afternoon.

1) My American friend and I will be crossing the Nepal-India border. Are there specific hours that the Immigration offices are open on either side. We might be crossing late at night or early morning thus are worried that Immigration will be closed and we might be stuck for a few hours

2) Will Taxis/Jeeps agree to take us to Gangtok in the evenings at a decent rate?

We are planning to leave Kakravitta around 7PM for Sikkim, meaning we will arrive there around 11PM.

Our second option is to spend the night in Kakravitta and depart early morning around 6AM, but we are worried that the Immigration Office might not open until a few hours later and we have an important arrangement in Gangtok that afternoon.

I'm a little unclear about your questions. How are you getting to the border & from where in Nepal are you starting?

Maybe you could give a few more details of your route & plans. How much time are you planning for this whole journey?

I definitely would not plan anything on a tight schedule since there are many unexpected things that can interrupt your journey.

I think the borders do still close at night but I cannot find anything about this. Maybe someone else can tell you. You probably can find a taxi to Gangtok but I'm sure it will be expensive if you take it from the border. They know they've got you if you need to get somewhere!

I also think it's longer than 4 hrs. from the border to Gangtok, but maybe someone else can add to this.

tanakpur-mahindranagar-malakheti-dhabai-chisapani-kohalpur-ameliya-butwal-narayangarh-mugling-benighat-kathmandu-
dhalkebar-gurdham-hanumannagar-belbari-kakarbhita-bagdogra-darjeeling
-by self driven car- is it feasible /allowed
-how much time it will take approximately

Could you tell me more about this route? I mean, what all can I see, duration, expenses, fooding lodging etc. Can this route be covered by buses and taxis with breaks in between?
How bad is the travel betwen Paintanki and Kakarbhita?
Thanks a lot in advance.

Ex NJP trip to Nepal and back in 5 days

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaleenhi all. is it a feasible route-

tanakpur-mahindranagar-malakheti-dhabai-chisapani-kohalpur-ameliya-butwal-narayangarh-mugling-benighat-kathmandu-
dhalkebar-gurdham-hanumannagar-belbari-kakarbhita-bagdogra-darjeeling
-by self driven car- is it feasible /allowed
-how much time it will take approximately

Planning a trip to Nepal ex NJP on 9th October and return to NJP on 14th. I liked the route you suggested and like to find out more in detail.
Could you tell me more about this route? I mean, what all can I see, duration, expenses, fooding lodging etc. Can this route be covered by buses and taxis with breaks in between?
How bad is the travel betwen Paintanki and Kakarbhita?
Thanks a lot in advance.

I crossed this border a couple of times. It's quite messy and sometimes difficult to understand where to report and what is expected. Actually, it would probably be easy to go through without being checked, as Indian and Nepali citizens can pas it freely. But don't take a chance and make sure to get your exit stamp, as well as you entry stamp, or you might be into trouble when you leave again the country if you don't have these.

Respected sir,
I am planning to go to MUKTINATH 15/10/2012 with my wife and 4 yrs old DAUGHTER. From kolkata we will start from 15/10/2012 and will be at pokhra ( raxaul Indian border) by 16/10/2012 .
My return ticket is from raxaul on 26/10/2012 . We need your help regarding these following matters :--

1.) we want to go to beni by bus , then stay Next day we want to proceed for jomsom by local jeep or bus. Is this ok? Or should I choose flight from pokhra??? Please give me your opinion or suggestion.

2. Should we require ACAP AND TIMS CARD for that region? What is cost of it??

3.) From jomsom I want to stay at kagbenti the want visit muktinath..

We are planning this trip in such manner that kipping it in mind that we have a 4 year old member with us...